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Chapter 5

           “Marmie’wasafamiliarfigure,Iunderstood,atballsandpolo-weeksandcountryhouses.Hewasanadroitscandal-monger,andwouldcrawlamileonhisbellytoanythingthathadatitleoramillion.IhadabusinessintroductiontohisfirmwhenIcametoLondon,andhewasgoodenoughtoaskmetodinnerathisclub.Thereheshowedoffatagreatrate,andpatteredabouthisduchessestillthesnobberyofthecreatureturnedmesick.Iaskedamanafterwardswhynobodykickedhim,andwastoldthatEnglishmenreverencedtheweakersex.

           Anyhowtherehewasnow,nattilydressed,inafinenewcar,obviouslyonhiswaytovisitsomeofhissmartfriends.Asuddendaftnesstookme,andinasecondIhadjumpedintothetonneauandhadhimbytheshoulder.

           “Hullo,Jopley,”Isangout.“Wellmet,mylad!”Hegotahorridfright.Hischindroppedashestaredatme.“Whothedevilareyou?”hegasped.

           “Myname’sHannay,”Isaid.“FromRhodesia,youremember.”

           “GoodGod,themurderer!”hechoked.

           “Justso.Andthere’llbeasecondmurder,mydear,ifyoudon’tdoasItellyou.Givemethatcoatofyours.Thatcap,too.”

           Hedidashewasbid,forhewasblindwithterror.OvermydirtytrousersandvulgarshirtIputonhissmartdriving-coat,whichbuttonedhighatthetopandtherebyhidthedeficienciesofmycollar.Istuckthecaponmyhead,andaddedhisglovestomyget-up.ThedustyroadmaninaminutewastransformedintooneoftheneatestmotoristsinScotland.

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